Smaller left anterior cingulate cortex in non-bipolar relatives of patients with bipolar disorder

Objective: Bipolar disorder (BD) is highly heritable. The present study aimed at identifying brain morphometric features that could represent markers of BD vulnerability in non-bipolar relatives of bipolar patients. Methods: In the present study, structural magnetic resonance imaging brain scans were acquired from a total of 93 subjects, including 31 patients with BD, 31 non-bipolar relatives of BD patients, and 31 healthy controls. Volumetric measurements of the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), lateral ventricles, amygdala, and hippocampus were completed using the automated software FreeSurfer. Results: Analysis of covariance (with age, gender, and intracranial volume as covariates) indicated smaller left ACC volumes in unaffected relatives as compared to healthy controls and BD patients (p = 0.004 and p = 0.037, respectively). No additional statistically significant differences were detected for other brain structures. Conclusion: Our findings suggest smaller left ACC volume as a viable biomarker candidate for BD.

Migraine improvement correlates with posterior cingulate cortical thickness reduction / Variação da espessura cortical no cíngulo posterior em pacientes com enxaqueca. Correlação com a melhora pós-tratamento profilático

ABSTRACT Objective The main goal of this study was to correlate migraine improvement, after prophylactic therapy, with cortical thickness changes. Methods Cortical thickness maps were obtained with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) from 19 patients with migraine before (first scan) and after (second scan) prophylactic treatment, and these were compared with controls using the FreeSurfer MRI tool. Cortical changes were correlated with the headache index (HI). Results Anincrease incortical thickness was found in the right cuneus and precuneus, somatosensory and superior parietal cortices in both patient scans, compared with the controls. No changes were observed in the left hemisphere. Following correction for multiple comparisons, no areas changed from the first to the second scan. Regression analysis showed a significant negative correlation between the HI improvement and cortical thickness changes in the left posterior cingulate, a region involved with nociception and, possibly, the development of chronic pain. Conclusion There were changes in cortical thickness in patients with migraine relative to controls in areas involved with vision and pain processing. Left posterior cingulate cortical changes correlated with headache frequency and intensity.

RESUMO Objetivos Correlacionar a melhora de pacientes enxaquecosos após tratamento preventivo com alterações na espessura do córtex cerebral. Métodos Espessura cortical foi determinada a partir de imagens de ressonância magnética (RM)em 19 pacientes com enxaqueca, antes (1ᵃ RM) e após (2ᵃ RM) o tratamento profilático, e comparada com controles, usando o programa FreeSurfer. Mudanças corticais foram correlacionadas com o índice de cefaleia (HI). Resultados O hemisfério direito apresentou aumento da espessura no córtex do cúneus e pré-cúneus, parietal superior e somatossensitivo na primeira RM e na segunda RM, em comparação aos controles. Após correção para comparações múltiplas, nenhuma região cortical se mostrou estatisticamente diferente entre a primeira e a segunda RM. A regressão mostrou correlação (negativa) significativa entre melhora do HI e mudanças na espessura cortical do cíngulo posterior esquerdo. Conclusão Existem alterações de espessura cortical em pacientes com enxaqueca em relação a controles em áreas envolvidas com processamento visual e com a dor. As alterações corticais no cíngulo posterior esquerdo variaram de acordo com a frequência e intensidade das crises.

Effect of chronic nicotine administration on the anterior cingulate cortex [area 24a] of adult albino rats: a histological and immunohistochemical study

Nicotine is the principal active component in cigarettes and cigars. It was reported that tobacco smoking enhances the performance of cognitive processing. The anterior cingulate cortex plays an important role in attention and working memory performance. This study was conducted to demonstrate the effects of chronic administration of various nicotine doses on the structure of the ventral anterior cingulate cortex [area 24a] in adult rats, as well as study the effect of withdrawal of high doses of nicotine. A total of 48 adult male albino rats were used. They were divided into four groups. Group I [N=1 2] was considered the control group. Group II [n=12] rats were treated with 1 mg/kg nicotine subcutaneously for 2 months. Group III rats [n=24] were treated with 6 mg/kg nicotine subcutaneously for 2 months. Thereafter, half of the animals were sacrificed. Group IV [the recovered group] consisted of the remaining I 2 rats of group III that were kept for another 2 months without treatment and then sacrificed. Brains were processed to be studied using Einarson's gallocyanin stain, the Golgi-Cox method, transmission electron microscopy, and immunohistochemical study for glial fibrillary acidic protein [GFAP]. Further, the number of cells in the second and fifth layers of the cingulate cortex [area 24a] was measured and statistically analyzed for all the studied groups. Examination of the cingulate cortex [area 24a] in low-dose nicotine-treated rats [group II] revealed an increase in the branching of the dendrites of the pyramidal cells together with a relative increase in the density of the spines. An ultrastructural study showed the presence of numerous synaptic contacts between the nerve processes. In high-dose nicotine-treated rats [group III] the cells showed degenerative changes, which were more evident in pyramidal cells. These changes were associated with a marked reduction in the extension and branching of the dendrites. Dense GFAP immunostained fibers and cells could be seen particularly in layer I. In the recovered rats [group IV] most of the cells restored their normal appearance. Mild GFAP expression could be observed. An insignificant difference in the number of cells was also found in comparison with controls. The effect of nicotine on the organization of the anterior cingulate cortex [area 24a] was found to vary according to dose. Withdrawal of high doses of nicotine will result in a marked reduction in the structural impairment of neurons

Structural Brain Alterations in Individuals at Ultra-high Risk for Psychosis: A Review of Magnetic Resonance Imaging Studies and Future Directions

Individuals at ultra-high-risk (UHR) for psychosis have become a major focus for research designed to explore markers for early detection of and clinical intervention in schizophrenia. In particular, structural magnetic resonance imaging studies in UHR individuals have provided important insight into the neurobiological basis of psychosis and have shown the brain changes associated with clinical risk factors. In this review, we describe the structural brain abnormalities in magnetic resonance images in UHR individuals. The current accumulated data demonstrate that abnormalities in the prefrontal and temporal cortex and anterior cingulate cortex occur before illness onset. These regions are compatible with the regions of structural deficits found in schizophrenia and first-episode patients. In addition, the burgeoning evidence suggests that such structural abnormalities are potential markers for the transition to psychosis. However, most findings to date are limited because they are from cross-sectional rather than longitudinal studies. Recently, researchers have emphasized neurodevelopmental considerations with respect to brain structural alterations in UHR individuals. Future studies should be conducted to characterize the differences in the brain developmental trajectory between UHR individuals and healthy controls using a longitudinal design. These new studies should contribute to early detection and management as well as provide more predictive markers of later psychosis.

Anaplastic Ganglioglioma in a Middle-aged Woman: A Case Report with a Review of the Literature

We report a case of anaplastic ganglioglioma. A 45-yr-old woman was admitted with a 5-month history of headache and dizziness, both of which progressed slowly. Preoperative magnetic resonance imaging revealed a strong enhancing mass in the left frontal lobe extending to the cingulate gyrus. Adjuvant radiation therapy and chemotherapy were given after gross total resection of the tumor. Histological and immunohistochemical studies showed an anaplastic ganglioglioma. Gangliogliomas of the central nervous system are rather uncommon tumors, and anaplastic ones are extremely rare. The pertinent literature regarding gangliogliomas is reviewed.